As another academic year wraps up at Virginia with graduation this weekend, it is a good time to check in with alumna Miranda Mason. TheSabre.com’s intern in 2012-2013 as a Sabre TV reporter and producer, Mason has continued her broadcast career at WTVY in Dothan, Alabama.
During her time at WTVY, Mason has covered a wide spectrum of sporting events. This includes time on the sidelines for SEC football at both Alabama and Auburn as well as high school action around the area. She also anchors the sports cast from the studio at times.
Recently, Mason did a great story on The Dothan Miracle League, an organization that provides children and adults with mental and/or physical challenges an opportunity to play baseball, through the eyes of siblings AJ and Taylor Howard. AJ Howard is a coach at Houston Academy while Taylor Howard was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and Autism at an early age.
Take a look.
TheSabre.com asked Miranda a few questions about the start of her broadcast career and, of course, the Wahoos.
What have you been doing since graduation?
Miranda: Shortly after graduating in 2013, I was given the opportunity of a lifetime to come work as a sports reporter at WTVY in Dothan, Alabama. It’s a small town in the heart of SEC country and everyone – I can’t stress that enough – EVERYONE is either an Alabama or Auburn fan. I spend most of my Saturdays during football season on the sidelines in either Bryant-Denny or Jordan-Hare and occasionally I’ll cover the Troy Trojans or Florida State.
I’ve been gifted with some incredible experiences in Alabama. I was on the sidelines for the Immaculate Deflection (Auburn vs. Georgia 2013), two Iron Bowls (yes, the Chris Davis Kick Six for Auburn was as mind-blowing in person as it was on television), two SEC Championships, the Sugar Bowl, the 2013 National Championship and the 2014 Outback Bowl. It still catches me off guard sometimes that I get to call watching top 5 match-ups work … but I enjoy every second of it and I wouldn’t have it any other way (and I’m going to stick to my guns and not confess whether I’m Roll Tide or War Eagle fan).
When I’m not working with Alabama or Auburn, I’m chasing the local high school teams through their seasons. I think the high school students have been the biggest surprise I’ve encountered in my time in Alabama. It’s extremely rewarding to be included in their triumphs and successes and to watch them learn from the failures. I’ve had the privilege of watching many of them continue their careers at the next level and it’s hard not to be invested in their hard work.
Have you kept up with the Hoos?
Miranda: I keep up with my Hoos as much as I can. Thank goodness for social media because I can be at Alabama or Auburn and sneak on my phone to check and see what the Wahoos are up to. I’ve come to accept that making it back to Scott Stadium for football games is unrealistic while I’m in Alabama but I drove the DirecTV rep crazy making sure I’d would be able to get all of the games and I do my best to watch them by Tuesday every week. I have been lucky enough to sneak away to catch some really great UVa basketball games. I was at the 2014 ACC Championship to watch Virginia take down Duke and then went to the Round of 32 in 2014 in Raleigh. I made it to Charlotte for the first and second rounds this past season – I’m still in mourning – and I’m starting to think my traditional good luck yowie really isn’t that lucky. My station and co-workers also think I’m crazy because I’m usually at work during regular season games so I’ll turn it on at the office. I’m not sure if my co-workers appreciate the random yells of “COME ON MALCOM SHOOT THAT!!! or LONDONNNNNN!” that come from my desk, but they’ve come to accept that it won’t change.
Now that you’re experiencing life around the SEC and elsewhere, any big wish for the Hoos?
Miranda: Even though I really enjoy life in the SEC, the Hoos are my first love and will always have my heart. I’ve worked with a lot of different programs and it’s hard to rival an athletic program like Virginia’s because it operates around a family concept in every aspect. I’ve found that I always compare my experience at other schools to UVa and the ones that share that mentality are much more enjoyable to work with.
My big wish for Virginia is that the National Championship that has been knocking on the door of JPJ will find its way into the trophy case. That open spot has been waiting long enough. I’d like to see football find its feet again too so they can meet me at these big bowl games – I can’t think of anyone better to knock some SEC teams down than the Hoos. Virginia is known for its widespread athletic success on every field and I hope that never changes. People ask me all the time where I went to school and even though they think I’m a foreigner down here, everyone always has overwhelmingly nice things to say about UVa and everything it stands for.
Before I go, Kris and everyone at The Sabre deserve a huge shout out. My time working with The Sabre gave me the experience I needed to make it at the next level and I would not have the resume of awesome experiences I’m lucky enough to have now had Kris not taken a chance on me as an intern. I appreciate all of the readers that watched my videos while I learned and gave me the outlet to start a career doing what I love. I hope I’m making all of you proud and that I continue to do so as I move through my career.
Wahoowa!
